City Council - Regular Meeting

This meeting of the Aurora City Council for January 13, 2026 is hereby called to order at 6:01 p.m. Uh, will the clerk please call the role? Alderman Barrow here. Alderwoman Garza here. Alderman Messios present. Alderman Nunes here. Alderman Franco here. Alderman Seville here. Alderman Benuelos here. Alderwoman Smith here. Alderman Bug here. Alderwoman Bade here. Alderman Larson here. Alderman White here. Mayor Lash is present. Okay. Is there a motion to approve the appointment of a sergeant of arms for this meeting? Motion was made by Alderwoman Smith, second by Alderwoman Garza. Garza. All those in favor? I. Any opposed?

Uh motion carries by voice vote. Next, I'll ask Alderman MessiOS to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. United States for it stands one nation indivisibley and justice for all and we'll move right along to the mayor's report. John, take it away.

Thank you so much, mayor. It's another night to celebrate here in Aurora as we honor two groups who made their names known at the national and the international level. We'll start with the worldwide circuit. Well, Bonsi Valley High School made headlines on New Year's Day as the marching warriors were one of the centerpieces in Rome, Italy's New Year's Day parade. Let's give them a round of applause. [applause] The group's Rome tour spanned from December 28th through January 4th. that saw 146 members of the band perform live in Rome. Tonight, we have six of the marching warrior section leaders with us in attendance. In addition to the chair of Bubanzi's fine arts department, Mark Dooker, they're going to accept a special award from Mayor John Lash to commemorate this outstanding achievement. Any ward alder people who'd like to come down and take a picture as well, you're more than welcome to at this time. Also invited Bonsi. Come on up. All

right, this is outstanding.

Okay, the question is who's going to receive it? So it's just real quickly uh want to acknowledge the the hard work and what a achievement to get called to such an exciting international event and what an incredible opportunity for all of you to have that uh international experience and to represent our city I think is outstanding uh feather in our cap as a city. Uh so I want to present the mayor's award of uh excellence to the entire Wanzi Valley High School marching warriors. I know they probably wouldn't all fit in here without a violation by the fire marshall. Uh, but for representing Aurora in the international stage, performing at Rome, Italy's 2026 New Year's Day parade, you have made Aurora proud. [applause]

So, what we'll do is uh I'm going to pull this out the way. We'll shoot a photo real quick. Let's have the award in the middle.

Justin, tell us you with the longer hair. Could you go towards the right a little bit and make space? Yep. No, I'm sorry. The right. Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. There we go. That's fine. That works. Okay. Ready? One, two, and three. Big smile. give you an opportunity just to say a few words and uh any reflections you guys like to share from the trip experience.

Sure. Um so I I would just say uh first of all to the city council, thanks for the invitation. Uh we had an amazing trip. Um I think for a lot of students uh performing in the New Year's Day parade, we do obviously the Aurora parade and we do parades in Neapville. It was a very unique experience because it was it was extremely extremely well attended and just very exciting to play for an international crowd with many groups from all over the world performing there as well. But the other exciting thing that we got to do that was seemingly an accident. We were going to St. Peter's New Year's Day before the parade. We thought we were going to watch a mass with the Pope um on TV and suddenly we got into a line that took us inside the basilica and so we got to sit about 100 feet from the pope and attend a mass. So, Catholic, non-atholic, didn't matter. We had an amazing time and it kind of blew everybody's mind. So, um it was a great trip. Uh I can tell you as a teacher, uh we feel very fortunate to be in a community that has families and students who value that kind of an international experience. And it's also great to live in a community that where the the city recognizes the importance of that as well. So, um we had a great trip. We're we're glad to be back. We're almost healthy after traveling for a week, but uh it's great to be here and we we appreciate the city council uh giving us this recognition very much. We're lucky to have gone.

Any of our students have any words, thoughts, reflections? I won't put you on the spot. Thank you so much everybody for for representing the city of Aurora. Congratulations again to Wanti Valley High School. Round of applause for them. [applause]

Our youth continue to make things happen here in Aurora. And that theme continues in our second board here tonight. It's going to go to someone who continues to make AOR proud. He's been honored here before, and he made history again in late December, earning three gold medals at the AAOU Northern Indoor National Track and Field Championships. He's not only won three gold medals, though, he also set the national 12U record for the 200 meter dash. A national champion right here in this room from Aurora. Put your hands together for the Herget Middle Schooler and Aurora Flyer star Amari Lewis. [applause] Let Mayor Lash honor Lewis right now in front. Family, friends, anybody who'd like to come up to share the award with them, you're more than welcome to.

That's impressive. How fast? How fast? I'll let you I'll let you say a few words and you can share then. So, Amari, very impressive. Uh, and this is uh again another mayor's award of excellence to recognize uh your efforts for bringing home three gold medals at the AAU Northern Indoor National Champion and setting a national record for the 12U 200 meter dash. You made Aurora proud. Let's put it together for Armani. [applause]

Perfect. Yep. Ready? One, two, and three. Big smile. All right, you're all set. Well, coach Boat ride from the Aurora Flyers say a few words too on this amazing achievement.

Uh uh thank you everyone uh for being here. I'd like to give a credit to Amari outstanding work ethic. Uh he works very hard uh not only on the track but in the classroom as well. and we want to extend more um gratitude for him. So, he will be working a lot harder to get to the rest of my uh um college athletes and high school athletes and Olympians. So, he's definitely headed in the right direction and I'm going to give him all the credit and all the hard work. Thank you very much. [applause]

I think we'll probably see him back here. I was going to say we'll see him back here I'm sure for years to come hopefully at the Olympic level as as coach boat right said as well. Two great achievements here in Aurora tonight. Thank you all for being here. It's a great day in Aurora as always. Thank you.

Okay. And then the final piece of the mayor's report. If uh you're here for an award and you want to slip out before the city business uh begins, you're welcome to do so. You're welcome to stay. Exciting stuff coming up. Uh next I'm going to ask uh Jason Bower to give us a a brief update on a emergency situation that happened uh over the holidays. Working hard to rectify.

Yeah. Uh thank you, mayor. Good evening. Jason Bower with the Department of Public Works. So uh leaving the treatment plant, we've got um a number of large pipes that hit different areas of the city. The biggest one is our 36 inch southeast transmission main. So that basically it's 36 in for a great distance and then it branches off into some smaller pipes. I say smaller, but they're still 20 24 inches. They work their way down to the Fox Valley area down into Wards 9 10. Um actually about 55% of the water that leaves the plant uh utilizes this pipe. And o over the holidays, as the mayor stated, um we found that there was a leak in this pipe, which um isn't a huge problem in and of itself. We do have the ability to repair this pipe, take it out of service for a short amount of time, and make that repair. Unfortunately, this one is leaking inside a casing underneath the railroad. So, um we've been working, um between engineering, water production, and water and sewer maintenance to determine the best way to fix this. Um you can see on the graphic there, we have it circled in red. You can see the uh pink purple pipe. That's the transmission main. The blue lines are our standard water main lines and it's leaking inside that casing right underneath that southernmost track. So, um obviously, as you can tell, not an easy fix. We can't just dig up the railroad and you know, put them out of service. It's so it's um it's a little bit difficult, more difficult than uh any regular dig that we would have. It's also a little bit deep there. So, as I said, we've been working on some issues. Um, we came up with the plan to line this. So, in since we determined when the break happened and we've been working on it, we have reached out to six different vendors that have the ability to line this pipe. Um, as it turns out, only three of them could even line something of this diameter because again, it's 36 in. Um, when you're lining sanitary sewer of that size, that's a little more common, but um, a water main lining project is a little bit different. So, only two companies even felt comfortable giving us a number. So, we took those two numbers

and both of those companies are capable of doing the work. So, what we're going to do, our game plan moving forward is to get under contract with the the lowest of those two vendors. And the price for that is right around $500,000. So, um we'll be coming to you again probably in about two weeks. We'll probably bypass um INT and we'll bypass Cal just so that we can get them under contract even sooner. Our game plan is just letting everyone know tonight that what we plan to do is issue them a PO not to exceed $50,000 in the next day or so for them to start manufacturing this liner. So, they're going to manufacture the liner. It'll take about um 3 to four weeks to get it manufactured and delivered here. And in that in the meantime, while we're working on that, we're going to utilize the emergency repair contract. Um we're going to use Miller Pipelining. They've done work for us before. they're more than able to do their portion of the work because a lining company can't just come in and line this pipe. First thing we need to do is do some tree clearing. We need to get down to where the pipe is. We actually need to dig down and get everything secure and then as soon as the liner shows up, then we'll have to cut cut into the pipe and then the lining company will start the process of cleaning them cleaning the pipe out and then installing the liner. It's a cured in place liner. Again, it's similar to what we do with sanitary sewers. It's just a different material. So when we're done with that, then uh Miller Pipeline will put everything back together and we'll put it back into service. So we are able to take this out of service for an amount of time. We're in a low flow time of year. Luckily, we're not in the middle of August or, you know, when it's then demand is higher, so we can take this out of service to do this work. Um, but we don't know exactly how bad the the leak is. It's it hasn't gotten any worse since we've noticed it, but again, we don't have eyes on it. We're just kind of watching the meters at the plant to see how much water is going out. Um, so we know it is it is leaking. We don't know if it's a crack that's getting bigger, if it's just a hole. We we just don't know. So, we don't really want to spend another two months trying to bid

this project out. We'd rather use the um again the emergency service to do the the digging. We've already bid that out and we do have contractors that can do that portion of the work. And then again, we've done what we feel is a fair amount of due diligence to make sure that we're getting a good price on the lining. So we we want to get this moving as quickly as possible and really not wait any longer because again it's taken us a couple of weeks just to get to this point. So now that we have a game plan moving forward, we just wanted to inform everyone and and it sounds like it sounds like bad news, but when you called me, I was at Alderwoman Bade's Christmas event and and the numbers you dropped were 1 to 2 million. So [laughter] yeah. Well, so the good news is you came up with this lining solution and

Yeah. So the lining will be about 500,000 but then we will still have to pay um Miller pipeline time and materials for their portion. So that could be anywhere from another 100,000 to could be anywhere up to 300,000 depending on how we want to direct them to do the work. If we want them to add any valves, if we want to add any hydrants, I mean these these valves are are massive. So if we end up doing that, that's an a big a big expense. Um so it really just depends on what we want to do um as we're putting it back together. But yeah, so it could be um so the portion we know would be the lining piece. That's again with contingency we're thinking about 550,000 and then it could be as low as 100,000 for the um the digging and the actual pipe work. But it could go up from there if we again if we decide that it's in the best interest to get another hydrant or a valve in there, something like that. But um again, we don't have to bid that one out because that was already bid out through the emergency contract. So we more than happy to report back what the final cost is when we get there for sure. But [snorts] anyway, that that's the game plan.

Any other Alderman Franco? Is it possible, excuse me, [clears throat] that the traffic on the railroad tracks could have caused the leak at all? It's possible. Yeah. I mean, leaks happen all the time for a number of different reasons. Could be soil, could be could have been a defect in the pipe, could be could be anything. Could could definitely have been the the traffic on the on the trains. I mean, this line was put in, I believe, 1991, so hasn't had that much time in service. So that definitely could lead to it. That's part of the reason it's in a casing. So the casing extends past the tracks. So the casing is taking the brunt of the force when the the train when the train cars are going over it.

Yeah. The reason I asked that is if we were to ever find that out, would the culpability be on them a little bit to help us with that? I mean, that would be the perfect scenario at the cost, but you know, if we don't know, we don't know. I can tell you what the answer would be as soon as Yeah. No. No. We're there by easement. um you know, we're we're crossing their property and um yeah, we take all the responsibility for it and that's again that's part of the reason for the casing is they want to ensure that the railroad is going to be safe if something like this does happen. So, any other questions? Alderwoman Smith. Yeah, Jason, thank you for um updating on us and giving us updating us and giving us this information. Um have we had a leak like this in the past?

Not on a line like this. No. Okay. Yeah. I mean, a lot of times if it's a smaller line, you can just pull the pipe right out of the casing and put a new one in and you're in and out in a couple of days, but not to this measure. No, not to this measure. Yeah, this is the one we keep a close eye on this specific main just because of the amount of water that it distributes throughout the system. And it goes through a lot of areas that, you know, it goes under tracks, it goes through um the forest preserve. So, there's a lot of opportunities for it to to leak. And luckily we were able to find this one and identify where it was pretty quickly. Thank you. Alderman Nunes, when you do take it out of service, um how do you how do you bypass it? Rerout

there. So, we'll just use the the standardi the the regular part of the system. There are the transmission main interconnects with the regular system in a number of different points. So, it's just a it's a matter of closing this valve, opening this valve. Yeah. So, it's basically kind of forcing more water down to the southeast area that this would normally have served. And again, that's why it's it's it's nice that it's happening when we're not in, you know, high demand. Got appreciate it. I mean, the contractors won't enjoy digging when it's, you know, 10 degrees out, but Alderman Masakos. Yeah. Thank you, Mayor. Appreciate the update as well. Is there It's a 35 year old line. You said 91, right? Yes. Is there a reason to think about maybe putting a secondary line underneath there as well?

I mean, we could definitely look at it. Um, you know, it's it's more a matter of, you know, juggling all the different costs that the the water fund has to absorb. Um, I mean, it'd be great to have a redundant line that goes the entire distance of this one. Um, we could definitely look at what it would take to do redundant lines. Um, but again, we do have the ability to bypass for a moderate amount of time. Um, but yeah, to if we were to go to every railroad crossing that we have, we'd be looking at a very large number to to put those redundant lines in. But yeah, it's a good idea for sure. Uh, the other thing too, as you said about bypassing it and CO, I know you come to pretty much religiously. Yep.

So I I I think you'd be appreciative and I think the chairwoman would also agree to give us updates as this goes along until it's completed at INT as well. Yeah, we can definitely come and give you guys just a a a non-decision type presentation at the next right before that council meeting for sure. Yeah. To see how your milestones are going. Yeah. Appreciate. Yeah. And it would be it would be the next INT meeting because we're hoping to bring the contract for for this lining to um to council two weeks from today. So, we can catch you guys two weeks from yesterday. Yeah. All right. Thank you so much. Sure. Okay. Anything else for Jason? Thanks, Jason. Appreciate it.

Thank you. Uh just a few other things. I think most of the council will be attending the AKA Gala, but we've also got a MLK celebration coming up at East High on the 19th. Uh if you haven't already received that invitation. Um and then on January 20th, you'll be getting an invitation for uh the opening for the SJA Workforce Development Hub. Uh we've taken 649 South South River Street, which is our old water and sewer building and uh are creating a multi- um entity partnership to create a training program largely funded by DCEO uh and a SJA workforce development hub. So it'll be a time there's going to be a lot of agenda items coming through over time, including the lease for that facility. Um and it would be a time to come and attend. I haven't really talked to uh corporate council about how to ask and answer questions if we're all in attendance at a at a at a public event discuss discussing future events, but it'll be very uh informative and a time to sort of see the bigger picture about where we're going and what we plan to do with that facility over the next coming years. Uh so if we haven't already sent that out and make sure that it that it gets out tonight or tomorrow morning. Okay,

this concludes the the mayor's appointments uh report. We'll move to mayoral appointments. I'll ask the clerk to please uh read the first item on the agenda. 251018, a resolution authorizing the reappoint of Zyrus Chavez and Raphael Martinez to the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board. Second motion made by Alderman Smith, second by Alderwoman Garza. Are there any questions or discussions regarding this resolution? There being no further questions, will the clerk please call the role? Barrero, yes. Garza, yes. Masakos, yes. [clears throat] Nunes, yes. Franco, yes. Seville, yes. Benuelos, yes. Smith, yes. Bog, yes.

Yes. Larson, yes. White, yes. 12, yes. Zero, no. Motion carries. This resolution is adopted. Ask clerk to please read the next agenda item and next appointment. 251019, a resolution authorizing the reappoint of Zachary Bishop and Frederick Yanos to the Aurora LGBTQ advisory [snorts] bill. Moved second. Motion made by Alderwoman Smith, second by Alderwoman Garza. Are there any questions or discussions on this agenda item? Alderman Masakos. No ready to vote. Okay. No further uh questions. I'll ask the clerk to please call the role. Ferrero, yes. Garza, yes. Messiakos, yes. Nunes, yes. Franco, yes. Seville, yes. Benuelos, yes. Smith, yes. Bug, yes. Bade,

yes. Larson, yes. White, yes. 12, yes. Zero, no. Motion carries. This resolution is adopted. Uh, and then I'll ask clerk to read the final appointments. 251020, a resolution authorizing the appointment of Ella Falstrom to the African-American Heritage Advisory Board. So moved. Second. Motion made by Alderwoman Smith, second by Alderwoman Garza. Any questions or discussions? Hearing none, LS clerk to please call the role. Barrero. Yes. Garza. Yes. Messiacos. Yes. Nunes. Yes. Franco. Yes. Seville. Yes. Benuelos. Yes. Smith. Yes. Bug. Yes. Bade. Yes. Larson. Yes. White. Yes. 12. Yes. Zero. No.

Okay. Next I'll ask. Is uh Zachary Bishop, Frederick Yanos, uh Ellstrom, Zara Chavez, or Raphael Martinez here tonight? Come on up. We'll take a quick photo.

Oreo, hop in. I had to restart my computer. I want to thank all of our members. The rest of them will make sure to get them their certificates and send out a press release acknowledging their service. Um the next we'll move to public comment. Madam clerk, do we have any members of the public wishing to offer public comment?

We do. Okay. Outstanding. Uh will you please read the rules of public comment? Pursuant to the open meetings act, all persons shall be permitted an opportunity to address public officials under the rules established and recorded by the council. Under our rules, any person may address the city council for up to three minutes with a maximum of 30 minutes allotted for all public comment. No person other than the timekeeper or the chair for the purpose of maintaining order may interrupt a person recognized for public comment during his or her comments. Members of the city council shall not engage with nor respond to a speaker during the time set aside for public comment. Staff is directed to follow up with members of the public with respect to any concerns raised during public comment within the scope of the city's authority following the adjournment of this meeting.

Thank you. I'll next ask the clerk to please read the name of the first person wishing to offer public comment. Manuel Fernando Cardardoza. Welcome Mr. Cardoza. You can take either microphone and adjust it to to the height you desire. Your three minutes uh begins now.

City and honorable members, I come here to come and address my concerns when it comes to the street roads during the winter. More spec more specifically when it snows. As many of us know, when there's heavy snow, the snow trucks come out to shovel it with their plows. Many of these roads end up half clear due to many of the cars still being occupy of the cars still occupying the streets which causes a wall of snow then thick ice that covers the driveway when it melts. Best course of action to make sure the roads stay clear would be to take any parked cars which are not off the road in their driveways or yard. excluding the ones that aren't able to. To make sure such an action is fair, I believe the city should allow people to park their cars on their own yard all year around. For some reason, giving a ticket to somebody's car parked on their own yard is allowed, but tickets are rarely given to cars are not off the road during the heavy snowfall. People pay taxes. the very least the city could do would be to allow people to do as they please with their own land. Another thing I like to address would be how centralized the city is. Again, in the recent in the recent election, nearly over 11,000 people voted. Nearly 11,000 out of nearly 53,000, which is including the nonregistered adult voters.

If you were to include them, then the number of estimated for those who did not vote could be up to nearly 70,000 or more. If you go by the lowest population estimates of 175,000, it would be only 6.22% of the population voted when it should be estimated 40%. This is why unifying the people is important to ensure the election is done by a majority instead of a small few. That's all. Thank you, Mr. Cordoza. I'll ask the clerk to please read the name of the next person wishing to offer public comment. Sunite,

welcome Sunette. You have three minutes beginning now.

Okay. Uh here to oppose the increase the property taxes on residents of Illinois. Why are Aurora residents seeing a higher property tax bills? Did the Aurora residents create the lost revenue? Did we mismanage or did we steal the money? So why do we have to be punished to increase the property tax? We oppose the property tax increase because the city should do a better budget management or find another alternative funding mechanisms for public services. The mayor of Aurora should control spending rather than raising taxes on the residents. The mayor is punishing Aurora residents and deterring investments. The city of Aurora have sufficient revenue. The city of Aurora needs a tax relief, not a tax increase. Illinois homeowners bear one of the highest property tax burdens in the US which strains household budgets and reduce home ownerships. Residents will move to other cities where there is less property taxes. Why people are forced out of their homes they already bought, paid for and reside due to taxiation. This is not the American dream. This is American nightmare. People worked 30 years to pay off the mortgage. They should not have to pay property taxes. Why is the owner lose his property after mortgage is paid off? Because he cannot afford paying your property tax. Why you taxing the property? The owner rightfully own his own property. Property is property tax is like paying

rent to the city. We don't want to pay rent to the city. Poor people spend higher percentage of their income in their housing paying mortgages. It's unfair for lowincome residents to increase taxes. They might lose their property because of taxation. They cannot afford to pay tax. Also, knee taxes on a wealthy people is not good for the economy. The property tax should be abolished in Illinois or in Aurora Illinois. Property tax is not acceptable because it's not based on a person's current life circumstances. The tax will increase independently. Our ability to pay tax is not a factor. Aurora residents cannot afford to pay the new property tax that you put on. So the property owners will be forced to use appeals and exemptions. Thank you.

Thank you, Sunny. I'll ask clerk to please read the name of the next person wishing off for public comment. Laura Evans. Welcome to choose either side. This one's lower. [laughter] Welcome, Miss Evans. You have three minutes beginning now.

Okay. In two months, the moratorum on data centers will be coming up. So, I would like to make sure that everything is being considered. It seems like the moratorium's in place and as a resident, I'm not hearing much going on. I looked on the website and the Aurora website says they're looking for community input to help shape the new policies. I would like to volunteer. There was nowhere to there's no information on where to sign up, what to do, what to go forward, and I would like to do that. So, and I know this is just me talking. Um, so something else I wanted to clarify, too. So that is something I'd like to look into. I also noticed that it's being reported that we have only four data centers in this in Aurora. Well, there's two behind us on deal. There's two more off of built and there's at least one in Meridian Parkway. And as far as I can tell, that's the only ones. There's at least five. and they're all in Ward 10, which I'm really surprised that there's not more consideration from everybody in the other in the other wards about how W 10 is being affected because W 10 is really being affected especially in our neighborhood. So with the transparency and everything with the efforts with the city, our communities, our neighborhoods, we would like to be more involved, considered more a part of this and we want to make sure that the moratorium when it does come up that everything is being looked at and that our input is being looked at and considered as well.

Thank you. Thank you, Miss Evans. I'm going to ask the assistant chief of staff to please uh reach get her contact information so we can find a way to get her engaged. Okay, that uh concludes the public comment section of the meeting. Next, we'll hear both the consent agenda and the direct to council consent agenda in full. Will the clerk please read both agendas at this time?

25996, an ordinance amending section 25-267 regarding applications and fees for tattoo and body piercing establishments. 251059, a resolution approving the appointment of Lucas Datara as superintendent of facilities maintenance. 251030, approval of the minutes of the Tuesday, December 9th, 2025 city council meeting. 251039 approval of the minutes of the Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 city council meeting. So move second.

Okay. Uh is there a motion to approve the items both direct council consent and consent agenda as read? A motion was made by Alderman Franco, seconded by Alderman Seville. Uh, there being no further questions or members wishing to remove an item, will the clerk please call the role on both consent agendas? Barrero, yes. Garza, yes. Messakos, yes. Nunes, yes. Franco, yes. Seville, yes. Benuelos, yes. Smith, yes. Bug, yes. Bade, yes. Larson, yes. White, yes.

12, yes. Zero, no. Uh motion carries. The consent agenda and the direct council consent agenda are both approved. Congratulation and welcome aboard Lucas. Um next uh we will have unfinished business um about the onlight uh issue. And because both Alderman Larson and uh myself are on the uh committee uh for onlight, we will both recuse ourselves from the meeting. And I'll ask uh Prom Mayor uh Aldermanville to take the gavl.

Yeah, please read it. 25987, a resolution authorizing an advance of $80,000 to online Aurora for operational support. So move been made by Alderman Franco. Is there a second? Second.

Second made by Alderman Messiakos. Um is there a going to be any staff report on this? Brian Caputo, chief operating officer. I think we covered it pretty well at the committee the whole meeting, but I would be available to answer any questions that you may have to follow up. There was some other information that I uh sent to the council answering some questions that came came back and we have the volunteer director here as well. Okay, great. Thank you for attending again meeting. Uh is there any questions uh from the city council on either uh either person here before us?

Alderwoman Smith.

So initially I was very hesitant to support this initiative um simply because it has been presented as basically a black hole. Um and we've kind of tried to avoid the black hole because we just went through um a very bad budget system. But as I've learned more, um, I see that there could be some good, if we can get this under control, there could be some good outcome here possibly. Um, so I'm hoping before you have to come back again, we have some better news on possible revenue generating and and additional customers. So today I will be supporting this um with hesitation um in hopes that we can make this into a positive um functioning business that will benefit our city. I do believe we can um but I think unfortunately for you there's a lot of work to go into to it before that happens. So

Bane, thank you Mayor Prom. I think there was one uh outstanding question last time. Uh, will this be considered as a grant or a loan?

Um, I I I don't think we we have an answer to that question fully even yet. We still have to go through our strategic planning process which is scheduled I think for next week or later this week. Um, just that will be when we start to sort out what might be um what might what might be realistically possible. So the I' I've phrased this as an advance because it's that's yet to be determined. Um to to be completely clear um there there are so many financial obligations out there with online right now. We're just trying to deal with those that are the most pressing with this with this advance. And also uh are we actively looking to get more board members?

I'm not sure I'm in a position to answer that one. I'm sorry. Do you have Austin? Um Austin Fitz Corbett, volunteer director over at Onlight. Uh the answer is is yes. Um it's it's difficult given its current position to to find current board members, but we are actively searching. Um I've I've um provided uh notices on social media as well as the online website asking for those who are interested to reach out and we have had multiple interested parties. Could you please share it with the alderman too so we can also publicize it? Absolutely. From any of our boards just because there might be some decisions that are hard to make with just three board members. So absolutely. Thank you. Alderman older woman I will. Thank you.

Can I ask legal a question? Alderman Smith,

if if a quorum if the board members are seven and the quorum is four, how are we making decisions with three? Sorry, making sure my mic goes on. Um that that is an issue for online. I I agree it's an issue. So, I think I'm going to go back to my initial statement then. The hesitation even gets a little stronger than to support this and and and I will today. Um, but I think we have need to be in a better spot before we come back for more money because quite frankly, it's really uncomfortable as an alderman to to say yes to finance something or provide funds for something when we're being told that it might be a loan and it might be a grant. I don't spend my [snorts] own money that way that it might be I might be loaning somebody something that I might be getting it back but I might not. So this is a really tough spot for us to be in to make this decision. So we're doing this making this decision those of us who who choose to go forward with a lot of faith. So

older woman say maybe I might I may comment that I I know that Onlight would prefer not to be asking for this money. We would prefer not to be asking you to give on unlike this money. I think to maybe use uh some of Alderman Bug's phrasiology from last week that this is our asset, the fiber that's in the ground and this organization is administering it for us. Um so our task is going to be to come up with a a plan that hopefully makes this self- sustaining, which I think is what you're looking for, what we're all looking for. Okay. Anything more you want to add, Austin? No. Thank you, Mayor Prom. Brian, anything more you want to add? No, sir.

Any further discussion? Alderman Mesakos. Thank you, Mayor Prom. Uh, Dr. Pudau, has there been discussion about potentially uh creating an ad hoc committee with a definitive purpose, definition, and purpose? Committee of

alderman. Uh I'm I'm not aware of of any any discussion along along those lines. Um and I I guess I would I I would would wonder if that we might be blurring the lines of of governance with that organization to do that. I'd have to defer either our general counsel or um a council with Onlight to answer that definitively. This seems to be falling into a situation where we definitely have uh we have an issue uh

that requires a more focus and investigation perhaps maybe beyond the uh specific committee. So yeah, I would I would appreciate some insight from our legal counsel. I guess it the question would be what would the ad hoc committee be tasked with? In other words, how close would the city council be getting to the operations of Onlight?

So, there's there's a difference between the you know, if the city council is taking a look at the city's asset as we own it and I mean it's our it's our fiber, right? So, you know, to to the extent the city council is involved in in that that makes perfect sense. um to the extent that the city council is getting, you know, involved in the contracts or finances of online, you know, I I would caution creating an ad hoc committee for the um from the city council to do that. So I so I'm not sure

because why would there be caution? Maybe uh alderman you if you could give us an opportunity to go back and study this one to see if that that we could if that makes um would move the ball forward.

I be honest with you I just thought about it right here at the dis. I mean I would have approached beforehand but since we're talking about it and there's also you know actually came up because of discussion what uh the commentary from Alderman Smith here too about caution trying to understand where we're really at and I thought about what you said last uh last week when you were here at CO and that was uh creating a group to have a discussion and to formulate where how we're going to move forward and especially since there's not a full committee on on as well u add-on light also I mean is there some gray area that Maybe the alderman need to step in and also participate in this. I I think the alderman can understand dollars and cents too. Uh but that's not you know ultimately um that's not the core I think mission here.

We do have the mayor and one alderman on on the board. So that's there's representation there. I think we'd have to go back and study it to figure out what I think I I think the really you know the devil's in the details here. to the I guess I would need a better understanding of what the committee is. You know, an ad hoc committee for, you know, I'm not sure I'm clear on what the purpose would be. Well, I don't want to start getting into details we've already discussed. I don't know how far we want to go with those. You know, we know we've had

Yeah, that's that's why I think Dr. Caputo is saying we have to I think it would be a good idea to give it some thought and regroup. Um I don't I'm not saying that it's a it's a bad idea. I think there are things that from the city's perspective that that are worth considering and perhaps you know considering just from the city's perspective such as you know we have this asset what do we want to you know how do we want to manage it? Um but that's you know that that might be separate from the discussion of um you know specifically the the contracts with online.

Well I'm not going to speak for the chairman but I know we we've talked I mean I'm sorry to Mayor Crom but there have been ad hoc committees in the past haven't there not? Uh there have been but the one thing that brings to mind is if if we have more alderman participating then when it comes time to actually vote and uh if need be then there' be more alderman abstaining and leaving the room for discussion and the like. So [clears throat] uh I think uh your Dana's response regarding the uh you know what we'll be tasked with is an important one component of what the mission is and what the goal is and then we can you know form an opinion other than that uh and go go forward accordingly. I

I do understand the council's concern about uh protecting protecting its interests absolutely the city's interests. Um I I think the I think we need to study the the matter of the governance, the governance of Onlight versus the governance of the city and how we align those given that we already have two elected officials on the the board of Onlight and and as we can all recognize, it is a very important issue to get this back on uh on track um and um fulfill its mission uh which is to implement our fiber uh optic that we have an expended money's on in the city for the benefit of the people that need it uh and for the benefit of of our goal of of connecting uh Aurora and those businesses as well as our buildings that that need it. So, this is an important issue that has um need to have serious discussion and I'm glad it seems to be we're on track and I am concerned as well that you know as Alderman Smith's saying um will you be back for more you know we and I know you're getting into it now and and hopefully with appointment of new board members and the like you can you can move forward uh with a quorum. Uh but I think that's that's one of your first tasks that needs to be undertaken as well. So Messias, you had a something else you wanted to say.

No, but I just you have two two council members already on the board. You already have two members of the ad hoc committee. Just a matter of figuring out if you want three or four or five. I think the rest of them can take care of the situation. Saying it moves forward with an ad hoc committee. I don't think that's going to be a major issue moving forward with that. I think it's workable. Well, depending on what the ad hoc committee is tasked with, I don't know that it would be appropriate to have the the same to have on-light board members on the ad hoc committee, but it would I mean

I I could there's there's a real potential for conflict there. where I expect the the the strategic plan exercise to go is that we're certainly going to try to chart out the future operational course of Onlight, but at the same time, there's a a major financial component that goes along with it. So, that gives you some idea of the level that we'll be operating at with that group. Alderman Franco, [clears throat]

I have no comment on which way we go. This is I don't know because you don't you guys don't know. I want you to have your meetings. But when we talk about an ad hoc committee, we have an IT committee. I can't imagine why we would just send it to them because it's information technology. This seems like it's right in their their wheelhouse. So if we were to go that way, my suggestion would be let them take care of it because that's what they're supposed to do. But again, I don't know what the legalities are. So I wouldn't even want to comment on that at this point. But if we were to go that way, we already have a committee set up for that. So Alder Vog,

thank you. Uh I appreciate my colleagues comment. Um the way this is set up uh we have to be very careful. The city has to keep at arms length online which is a nonprofit. So we cannot um overtake the instruction or the authority of online. Um and that's it's kind of the way the the rules are set up in Springfield. Um once you start to overreach or you know lend your authority over that um it doesn't go well. Let's just put it that way. So, right now we're trying to uh set at bay some of the people uh who need to get paid their interest paid. Um and the city needs to stay at arms length away from online in that transaction. Um so it's kind of the reason we're set up and the board the city has two board members. the other members are from the residents and uh from the region and that level of expertise. Um but I I think it would be a mistake to go any further. Um other than Frank is I mean that's you know it just to discuss things but not to have authority or to have any type of decision making over

them. That's that's the reason online has her own board. So, um yeah, I I would be very hesitant to go down this path of creating some other type of committee or some other type of um thing to oversee or lyn have authority over online. Alderman Franco, I mean Alderman Messos,

thank you. There's nothing formal being provided here yet. Um I don't understand why there is maybe hesitation about doing it because the whole idea of of an ad hoc committee uh is to have a focused worklike investigation uh purpose driven. It's always temporary. um we have someone I mean I'm not trying to say this needs to happen but for example someone like Alderman Bade who does have some level of IT background who can be involved in some type of a committee like that whether it's a it's a combination of alderman and and maybe non non city employees of some kind with some level of expertise because you've already just probably thinking about hiring some professionals too to get involved as well right

it's possible

okay it's possible so there's There's a lot of things that are out there right now and this thing has to keep has to move very quickly. So, um again, uh back to what our legal council said, it all depend it all depends on what definition the purpose is. Uh and it all stems back again to what Alderman Smith said about our concerns approving it, but what are we approving and what's the purpose? Um what are we really defining about how we're moving forward? What we found? Uh I know we've had again discussions with the the mayor's office uh in separate meetings uh if not individually. Uh it's hard to talk about that as well right here at the dis. I know there's information doesn't want to come out. But like I said that's that's I think now's the time to talk about these things right now because things are fast moving from what I'm gathering at this point or they will be after today. and um this these types of pocket change uh approvals are going to keep coming. It's not going to end. So having some confidence and clarity for the alderman so we could have and express that with the community I think is very important.

But that's where I'm coming from. If it if it helps the council, what we can do is um

w with we could come back and talk about what happened in our first meeting in general terms and what the what the plan forward is. Um and at the same time, we would take a look at at whether or not having from again from that governance standpoint whether it's appropriate to have uh city of Aurora elected officials more deeply involved than they already are. I I I just be real real careful about that without having to to investigate what it means. I understand I understand the the uh kind of the the the feeling that there's a lot at stake here. We get it. Um but at the same time, we've got we've got certain guidelines we probably going to have to respect.

Well, I appreciate that. I'm not looking to hold off this resolution, but uh I really do think this conversation needs to keep going. Uh there's communications and discussions always are very important so I want to put it on the table. Thank you mayor for Okay. Thank you. Alderman Messiakos. Any further discussion hearing? None. Please call the role. Behero. Yes. Garza. Yes. Messiakos. Yes. Nunes. No. Franco. Yes. Seville. Yes. Benuelos. Yes. Smith. Yes. Bug. Yes. Bade. No. White. Yes. Nine. Yes. Two. No.

Okay. The resolution is adopted. Uh we'll ask the mayor to um enter the room. Yes. And Alderman Lash. I'm sorry. What did I say?

Oh, did I say I'm sorry. Okay. Next, we'll move to new business. Is there a motion to suspend the rules to consider items under new business? Motion was made by Alderwoman Smith, second by Alderman Seville. Will the clerk please call the role? Barrero, yes. Garza, yes.

Nasiakos, yes. Nunes, yes. Franco, yes. Seville, yes. Benuelos, yes. Smith, yes. Bug, yes. Bade, yes. Larson, yes. White, yes. 12, yes. Zero, no. Motion carries. I'll ask clerk to please read the one and only item under new business. 2510004, a resolution authorizing the devestment and sale of city- owned properties located at 9:30 and 932 West New York. Is there a motion to approve the res? Well, we probably want a short presentation. Your honor, if you you can approve right away. You don't go ahead and give us a little bit little background. Uh Patrick, and

good evening. Assistant Corporation Council Patrick Collins uh here today with this uh agenda item. There are two single family homes on this property. As you know, the city has uh several different properties throughout the city that we've been marketing. Uh this one we've put out. Um this developer has built uh in 2024 they completed a home. So I checked with property standards. They had no issues when they were developing. Uh they've also provided um it's an allcash offer. They provided proof of funds. Um if this goes through, the city will no longer have to maintain the property and both properties will be returned to the tax roles. Um construction will be starting in the spring as soon as they can attain the permits and approvals. If you have any questions, happy to field those. And

so question by Alderman Seville. Yes. Thank you, mayor. The two homes that are given to us, an example. It shows a front front view only and it shows a single family garage. Is that correct? Those are samples. That is a sample that he provided from the home that they built in 2004. Okay. That is similar design to what he will do. He will still have to meet all of the plans uh for that location. I know with the uh the driveway, the two-car driveway as well as off- streetet parking as well. Yeah. Two-car garage and two-car drive. Okay. I've spoken with the builder. He's aware of that. Okay. I asked him to provide us some sample so we could at least kind of see the workmanship that he has done in the past.

And do we know if he's what what type of home is he building? Is it a two-bedroom, threebedroom, two bath, one bath, basement, anything like that? I don't believe they're a basement. I do not know how many. There will be a single family home on both of them. Do we have any control once we do this as to what's going to be built there? It would have to go through zoning still, right? Well, not zoning. It would have to go through building and permits. It would still be a multif family or I'm sorry, multi-bedroom, single family home. That is his intention. That's his plan. That's what he previously built.

Do we need any conditions to make sure that uh those that information is being who the ward alderman is is fifth ward or fourth ward? fourth word. Have you had any input or discussion about this? Alder Nunes. Yes. Patrick and I had a conversation over the holiday break, I believe it was. Yeah, right before that. And um I asked questions around the type of building, single family home, which he confirmed um the builder's experience building an Aurora and I felt comfortable with with what was shared. You do? And and the the layout of the future homes, you know, in terms of square feet and all that. Yeah. Okay. Alderwoman Smith.

Yes. Um so Patrick on the um property details um this is city property right correct then how come on the agreement the city doesn't show up as being the seller if we look at the last page of the agreement an agreement I am very well verssed in by the way oh the that is the re the listing agent that we have on there we what so this is in order for us to it on the MLS. We are the this it is city- owned property, but we are using EXP Reality Chris McGregor.

I understand that, but our name is not on this information at all. You put you you also the seller's information should be on here, and it's not. We've got you've got the seller being it's seller brokerage, the seller agent, but then it doesn't have who the who's actually selling the property on here at all. It's just blank. It's just blank, which is fine. In order for in the resolution, you're authorizing the mayor, the mayor's design, the treasurer corporation. And how did we find this real estate agent? Uh he'd been referred to us through the real estate attorney that we were using, uh Jeff Mroy. Okay.

Uh he's been the last four or five. He gave us the best rate as well. We've we contacted three or four different ones. Uh he gave us the best rate. What was his rate? What his name is? Chris McGary. No, his rate. Um, it should be on there. Uh, it's a flat fee in order for us to get on the MLS. Uh, it says 2.5%. Uh, we that will be there's no commissions on any of this. We're not actually approving this contract. This is just the dollar amount to sell it. We're not Okay. So, it's difficult when you put a contract in front of us and you say, "We're not approving this contract."

Correct. It's all in the resolution. In the resolution, it outlines the contract is his offer report on the two different properties, $30,000 each. We're not approving this contract. The contract will have to be edited. It's more the dollar amount. That's why we bring it direct here to council. So, there isn't any going back and forth negotiating or hackling on it. I follow your logic, but is it stated in the in the information that we're not following the contract? I believe it's in the resolution. Yes. Is it that states in the resolution that we are not following this contract? It's been written. No, it's stated that the the mayor has designated the treasurer or the corporation council is authorized to execute any other additional documents in order to complete this transaction.

Why did we add the document if it's not we're not following? Why why do we have the agreement in here if it's not being followed? The gentleman made the offer. This is the sample of the offer. Additionally, in there, that's why there's the photos are there. We didn't put the proof of funds in there either. That was

okay. Maybe if we could um put sample across the front of this legal document that's in here that we're not approving, but yet it's asking being asked for approval. Um I know we're not approving the contract, but we're being asked to sell the property. The way I look at this as a real estate agent is this is part of the documentation that we are approving today and but yet you're saying we're not approving it. This is a sample, an example. So perhaps it should have been written across example or something because I look at this I believe that's all in the resolution. Patrick, what we're voting on is the resolution. Correct. Correct. And what you're saying is that you've got a sample of the what the houses may look like. Correct. And a sample of the uh contract of sale.

Correct. This is here for the approval of the dollar amount. We cannot move we cannot proceed forward without city council approval on the dollar amount. Thank you. I I don't disagree with that. I just think if we're if we're going to use something as a sample, we should stamp across it sample because this this is a it's not signed. So, it's not legal. This is a legal document. This this uh real estate um documents. Understood. Alman Seville. Yes. Um

thank you, mayor. Um do we have any history of this property? I mean, how did the city acquire it? When? Why? uh what what was the city intention back in the day and I do not have any of the history of it. The little bit that I do have this used to be one parcel that we have then separated into two separate parcels is a similar size that's to the rest of the other homes and lots in the neighborhood. Um you have Mr. Curley if he has any other information in the historical background. This is part of the devestment group that we've had that we've been

So you're right. So the rest So the council knows we have a a devestment group that includes a multi-day apartment look at each and every property. So we're not putting something on the market that economic development might have a plan for. Uh we meet monthly. You can talk about it at length and there's a long list of properties that we've been working to uh divest. Some of course need work and special deals and some of them uh like this we're able to relieve rel relieve as a as a burden on the city relatively easily.

Right. Uh hi John Curley uh chief development services officer. Um I do have some answers alderman civil but not all of everything you asked for. Um last I recall there was a residence on two legal lots. Um and I do not recall what happened. I I vaguely recall it may have been a fire, but I need to I need to research that. I wasn't prepared to talk about this. Um so my recollection is there's two legal lots there. Um I do not recall why we came into ownership of it either. We could we can research that and get back to you. Uh but it uh under the committee uh that we've been working on uh we have been working for two and a half years probably to uh collect all of the um uh city-owned properties that we're not doing anything with per se. And and as as uh Patrick mentioned that we are paying to maintain uh to uh ascertain whether or not those properties might have value on the open market and then determine which of those properties make sense to list and sell andor some of them may need u u consolidation uh reconfiguration of lots to make them uh legal conforming uh from non-conforming lots. So, we've been a big process to deal with a lot of city- owned properties like this. This particular one, again, my recollection is uh one owner, two lots with a structure, and I do not recall why we came into ownership of it.

I think I can only speak of course for myself. Um

that would be helpful for me uh if we could get a history of of this lot, if we get a photo of it, if we could get a like a zoning map and have that photo outlined in it. uh and just really have more details and what they're going to build and the like. Uh if if we're asking for a property that we own to be sold, no matter whose ward it is, I like to know what's going in there myself and more details so I can feel comfortable about making a decision about selling it and then having it developed with I have no knowledge about there's really not a lot of information in here that I can really feel comfortable with to to take a positive vote for me tonight. So, um I I if we've got all these properties like you say that they're were being reviewed and that's a good thing. Just in the future, I think we need more details.

Understood. Mr. Mayor, I'm sorry. But real quick, um Patrick is if we um were to delay this, uh is that going to we going to lose the seller? Do we have time to work on this? I know I know we brought it direct to council. They have an agreement. they've, you know, made an offer and it's not particularly easy to get rid of these properties.

Yeah. I mean, we have an appraisal on this property. This is either at or above the appraisal priced value. Um, this was the system that we had put in place to bring these to the to city council direct in order so these property owners could move the property along. Um, this was what we were tasked with to unload the city-owned properties that have been sitting vacant. This one's been vacant for years, is my understanding. We took the steps in order to separate the properties so we could put them on the market. We're paying money to put this out on the market. That's why we brought it here in order to move the sale forward. Well, I appreciate that, but like I say, I I just don't feel that I have enough information that I can feel comfortable with to move forward on it. Um,

would it be helpful to pull it up on the screen if uh we could get communications to pull up 930 and 932 uh west? Um, I'd like to New York and and take a look at it from local overhead. I've looked at it multiple times, so

I would still like the history of it. But I mean, I'm sure we can research it to find out what the history was or what the original intent of this. We can even call the previous award alman. I'm thinking they're going to know what's going on. And I just kind of wondering, you know, we acquired it. I I don't remember because this wasn't in my ward as to why we did that. Um, so that's all I'm saying in the especially in the future going forward with the if the intent is to devest ourselves of other properties, just give us more information. That's all. So, I' I've taken some feedback that we can include sample on on things that are samples and um [clears throat] uh certainly putting a I don't think it would be too difficult to put together a drawing that shows the the lot lines and so forth and uh you know a Google overhead map which uh I think

and Mr. Mayor, I I have a concern once we put that uh is is that what is that? 9:30 or 9 9:30 and 9:32. I'm sorry. Sorry. Go ahead. And then my concern is once we sell it, what is the control? How do we know they're going to build uh you know, do they there's no time frame as to what they're going to build uh and when uh or ever. Well, we know they're building a single family home and they would have to bring a plan forward to building and permits. There's no it's is it two lots or is it one that's already combined? It's two lots. Okay. So, there's no change to make it one through planning and zoning. Correct. This one did not require that. That's correct. Okay.

The city actually went and separated it. We took the steps preemptively in order to do it. So, there would be two developable single family homes. Okay. Okay. So, Mr. Mayor, we have to go back to my question because you've totally blew me off with no answer. So, I I really don't appreciate that. Although you gave Alderman Seville complete and full time and answers, I may be wrong with my questioning, my line of questioning. I'm I'm happy to to say if I am wrong. It's just It was my understanding you wanted the word sample added to the contract.

Well, if you would have allowed me to finish instead of cut me off. No one said that that would that would occur. It's just that we have a contract in front of us and we're being told it's not really a contract. And and I I tried to just quickly look in the resolution. I don't see where it states that the contract's not valid. I'm not trying to oppose this item. I'm just saying we have a contract in front of us and then to be told it's not a valid contract. Then why is it there?

I just I just want an answer to it. I'm not trying to oppose the whole thing. I just don't appreciate being cut off when I'm trying to get an answer to a question. It's just not kind. I think what he's saying though is that I I'll let you say it again that we're voting on the resolution itself and that these are samples. Is that accurate? Correct. This is that the offer is for $30,000 for each lot. The resolution specifically authorizes the mayor, his designate, the treasurer and corporation council to execute any other remaining documents in order to execute the actual transfer and sale of the property. And that's stated in this resolution, right? Correct. That I'm looking at. Yes. Can you tell me where? Uh, I would have to look, but I believe it's the section two and three.

The hell and and I think it's perfectly fine to add the word sample in the future. That's not a problem. I appreciate it. I'm sorry to give you a hard time. I just would have liked to have finished my my statement and get my answers an my questions answered. So, I appreciate the extra time to get that done. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Any further discussion? Alderwoman Bade. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh after the sale of the property, so this will not come to BZNE, planning and zoning in BZNE. Well, the planning and zoning it may come to depending on the actual permitting and approval process but through committee for the approval of the sale of this property will not not the sale but the construction part. Yes. It'll go through normal process. Yes. Everything will go plan and everything will go to planning and zoning and then BZNE and then correct. Yeah. Coming soon. Thank you for clarification. Any other questions? Alderman White.

Thanks, Mayor. So, uh, I do have questions about being that the city does own this property, we do have some control over who we sell it to and what's being built there. And it is one-story home. So if we approve this and it moves forward with uh and they go through building and permits will there be discussion about uh energy efficient homes renewable energy would that be a part of the discussion in building of permits or or not?

Well um if we I we did not have that as a provision of the contract. Uh so there would not be additional uh items that needed to be complied with but they would have to comply with the uh state energy code which just got updated so that it' be the uh 21 energy actually 24 IECC code which was just adopted by the state in November. Okay. And I have put the builder in contact with Allison sustainability. Perfect. Okay. Thank you. Whether that comes to anything they've at least been connected. I think the contact the connection makes sense. So, I appreciate that.

And and on that front, just so you're aware, we were actually, I think Sunday night, working with the neighbor project and we've been pushing a lot of these properties out um with hopes that they'll adopt more stringent energy efficient buildings. They were looking for some opportunities. And I had this one on there and and Shannon said, "Have to take it off because we just sold it." So, but uh we are looking in that direction. and we're trying to use some of our um irregular lots that the city owns uh as as unique opportunities for Habitat or another builder to do some infill and and at that level the city would be a participant. You would have a lot more control and we would have a um you know a bigger say and you would be getting a lot more uh detail. But for now, we're just selling to a investor of some sort or a builder.

He's a he's a builder who's built previous homes in the city before. Okay. So, he's experienced with the system. He knows how it works. Okay. And I did take the feedback. I I think Alderwoman Smith's feedback on the samples is fine in the future and we'll try and give it a little more information as far as what it is uh what the lot looks like and so forth. Do you feel good with this, Alderman Nunes?

I do. Um if I recall correctly, I believe this used to be a fourunit on this lot that was later torn down by the city. Um, I don't want to throw that out there is 100% facts, but if you want to look into that, um, we have two lots that are empty. They're looking to build two beautiful homes with experience already dealing with the city. Um, the homes align with the overall um, design of that neighborhood. So, it's not going to be like a McMansion in the middle of nowhere or anything like that. Um, and with all that said, I mean, I feel comfortable moving forward. Any further questions or discussion? Uh there was a motion made by Alderman Franco to approve. Is there a second?

Second. Got it. Second by Alderman Messiakos.

Okay, there's no further questions. Sorry, Alman's bill. Again, um I understand and appreciate to hear from the the fourth word alderman alderman Nunes and and understand totally about his comfort level. My concern is sometimes streets are paved with good intentions and there's no mechanism to hold their feet to the fire on this. Uh they could decide in in a month from now that they're not going to build now and now they own the property. There's no conditions that this is going to move forward in a manner that Alderman Nunes expects and anticipates and desires. Um, I'd like to hold this off for two more weeks to get more conditions and more information in here, uh, to make sure that they they do what they they tell us they're going to do for the benefit of our neighbors and the people that are going to be build owning the property and uh, and the like. So, I'd like to hold this off for two weeks. I'll make that motion.

Well, I mean, this isn't a redevelopment agreement. I don't know what conditions we can put on the property. The property will go back under the tax roles regardless if they build or not. The city is spending between $700 to $1,000 per lot that we own and maintain to cut the grass on a yearly basis. That will immediately be transferred to them upon sale. If they don't build, that's still they're still sitting on lots where they're paying property taxes and then having to maintain the property. No, I understand. But that is that our intent just to get rid of it and we don't care what's going to happen on it. You're showing us these really nice pictures of these two homes and building some level of expectation here. Now you're saying we don't it doesn't matter. No, it absolutely does matter. His intention is to build. I

I know that's an intention, but his intention can change the day after closing. Same with any real estate transaction. I know. So why don't we want to control because it's our property and and it's not negative to the neighborhood. Right now it's a

but I I think that the the issue is that it's not as I mean as a condition of sale. We can't. I mean, you're asking for us to put some sort of like restrictive covenant on the property and there's there's some serious limitations to that. Additionally, the sale price that's been negotiated on this property does not include any of those restrictions. So, I mean, we, you know, in the future, I think that that can be a discussion, but I don't know that holding this item at this point to attack put strings on the sale. Well, I don't I don't know that that's something that we I mean, if I I I'm not going to, you know, I I I just want to I don't want to negotiate against against us, but but I'm I I think that it it it's an issue because this is not a development agreement. It's a you know, it's a sale agreement. John, have we have have we ever done it this any of this in the past where we've uh conditioned it outside of of making it a single family home?

And what what what control do we have through building and permits? Well, uh the building and permit process is going to ensure that it meets all of our uh uh all of our ordinances, covenants, zoning regulations, uh like it would any for the for the uh the zoning type that it is. So, and we do that, you know, all the time, thousands of times a year. So, uh that will happen. Um I I believe I recall some uh restrictions added to properties in the past. Uh but I can't I it's been a long time and I can't remember all of the details to be honest with you. Uh we used to have a program as an example that was a uh we were essentially purchasing uh units or the ability to to do units from properties and then recorded deed restrictions after that purchase. So I I don't I don't know that's exactly apples to apples but um I I I believe something has happened like that in the past. I just don't reme remember all of the details.

And if somebody bought it but didn't do anything, they didn't mow the grass, we would go out and with property standards and hold them accountable presumably. Absolutely. That's correct. Yes. Um is there any other environmental remediation or studies that have to be done before to the property before they study uh build before they build on it?

No. Uh a part of our uh analysis that we're going through as a group is to look at uh uh sites that have been had reported contamination and deal with that as part of our um discovery and then disclosure if disclosure or cleanup if it's required to be cleaned up as we're as we would move towards the position that these two properties are in. This this particular one was a little simpler and closer to being able to bring to market than some of the other ones we're dealing with. If if there's not too much, would it in the future would it make sense to try and bring the seller here to share with what what their plans are for the property for? We could bring the seller. Sorry, the buyer.

What? Well, the buyer what what we would need to do is we would need to completely remarket these properties because what we have listed on the MLS is that we've got a property for sale. You want to come build, come on down. If we're going to now put restrictions on it that you have to build within x amount of dates and times and everything else, that's going to need to be out there from the beginning, not now that you want to buy it. Now, here are all of our conditions. So, the the we probably would have to take all the properties we currently have on the market off in order to re-evaluate them to determine what conditions we would want on each and every single property in order to move each one of them forward for what specific conditions we would be looking for. And I I don't think the the the law department does not you know which how fast do we want them to build if they don't build fast enough? What are the repercussions? When would they be the repercussions? Is the property going to come back to the city if they don't build it within a certain period of time? Is the sale price going to change if they don't build within a certain time? If they build a single family home with two bedroom versus four bedrooms or onebedroom or uh threecar garage versus a onecar garage in any one of those different situations. That's the individual property owners selections on how they want to build. If we're going to remarket them, then that would be

a different position. We would have to go with the city. We would have to, I think, remarket all of the properties we currently have on the market. Well, for for procedure- wise, um, Alderman Spil's made a motion to hold it here. Just would, um, is do you think that's going to delay the sale? You've been in contact with them at all? I I don't it would depend on any of the other conditions or anything else we're going to put on it that if Well, if we put conditions on then probably if we don't put conditions on then anything else I think would absolutely tank the sale. Yes. Okay. Uh Alderman Mug.

Yeah. I I definitely appreciate uh Alderman Seville's point. Um when my ward was built, it was built before 2008 and then 2008, of course, you had builders who had property and the housing market went bust. Uh we had one particular builder um had a lot of lots um and nothing happened to them. They sat empty for a very long time. And we tried to work with them. um he felt like it was going to be better financially for him to build somewhere else in the western suburbs than in Aurora and those lots just sat there. Um I I think it's unfortunately it's just part of um the real estate game. Um we we could not force that builder to build on those lots that he he owned it. This is America. So he could continue to pay the property tax on that property that he owns, but we could not force him to build. We tried to work with him varying ways and that was 2008. We are just finishing out that subdivision now. It's not finished yet. So it's a long time, 17 years later. Um but um it's an unfortunate thing, but I I don't think you can tell someone you're buying that lot now. You have to put that whatever that is there. You have to build that there. We have our set standards. Miss Basic and her team does a fantastic job. Uh if you're not if your plans and drawings

don't meet those standards, believe me, they will step up and let you know it. Uh what the standards of the city are. Um we first discuss about driveways. You know, if your driveway doesn't meet it, Miss Basic and her team will let you know and you're going to have to change that. Um so we definitely have the standards in place for when the builder sends in the plans. Um, and like Almania said, you can't go the other direction. You can't build a 16 room, 10 bathroom thing on a small lot. That doesn't work either. So, um, I mean, I I I think that the mechanism is in place that he when he builds, he has to be within the scope. Um, but we can't tell him what to do and we can't force it upon him. outside of code.

Pardon? Outside of code. We can make him follow code. So there's a motion. There's a motion on the floor to hold. I don't know if there's been a second motion to hold it. I haven't got a chance to speak yet. Alderman Franco.

So I hear what everybody's saying and Alman Bug makes some great points. I don't see any downside in this at all. Zero. Because the worst thing that happens, this guy buys a lot. It's on the tax rolls. He's got to keep it up and the neighbors still have open space. Nobody's complaining. I'm guessing that there's an open lot there. The best case scenario, they build two homes under the requirements the city has and we have two beautiful homes there. There's I don't see any real downside with this. And if we're going to have this guy come in and talk to us and he's going to say exactly what the corporation council said, we're going to build these homes there and we're going to take that as okay, but when it comes to the corporation council, we're not. I I just don't see why we're making this a big deal. I I don't see any reason why we wouldn't do it and roll the dice because at the end of the day, if he doesn't build on it, he's responsible for it and they still have open space. And who would want to buy lots and not build homes to make money on it? I I just don't see this conversation being really of any substance. I I just don't see any problem with this at all. So, that's my comment. I just I'm just kind of surprised we're even here.

Any other discussion on this uh agenda item or questions? Okay. I think the same we don't have to put the conditions because um we have so many lots in the city of Aurora

and um we are they are for sale already. So if you we start putting conditions so they want to stay forever in there. So a lot of people and especially and I'm talking about the Latino community, [snorts] they buy the land, the land, the lots because they want it for future for build something in the future or for their grandkids and see what they want in the future. But they want to buy it and if we start putting conditions, I don't think they work. So, we want to keep the keep cutting the grass or if they wanted they wanted a zoning change, they'd have to come back to the council with that plan or something. Okay.

Alderwoman Smith. Anybody else?

This is a example of why things need to go through committee. We could have had this conversation in committee. We wouldn't have had it here. I understand the need to move. I understand the whole thing, but I I just feel like if this had gone through committee that this would have been a smoother transition. Um because you're right, you can't tell somebody what to put on a property. You can't it's once they purchase it. It is their property and it is zoned a certain way. So, I just think that, you know, we could have had some of this stuff could have been taken care of before it got this far. um which is why we have the process that we have and um following the process is always the better way to go. So

in in the past have we brought these through committee or bring them direct to council? Correct. We we originally brought the plan for all of these properties to city council to explain the process of why we would be bringing these direct to and that the any a three to four week delay when we get an offer in order to move the property along to then bring it through. we were we were losing any of our offers because most people don't keep offers you know said you know don't keep offers open that long. So that that was the marching orders going forward is to bring them direct to council so we can get these approved when we find buyers that are ready to go ready willing and able that we can move the process along. Uh that was when you originally brought it to council two and a half years ago or uh uh the

it's been longer than that because it wasn't when I was on No, it was probably um over three years probably. That was with the original one. We've spoken I I think I've spoken to all the different aldermen on every all of them on the different process of how we'd be doing this, how would we be moving it forward so they were aware and fully knew that normally we would go through the process with the sale of this and everything else as we do. But with these single family homes that are ready to go, ready to build, this was the plan and the process that everyone kind of agreed on and we went through in order to move. And you know, well, when we have buyers that are ready, willing and able to go

and and in uh all the internal discussions while going through budget and and staffing cuts, this was something that was city employees brought forward as we have all this property. Can we divest as part of the financial the city's financial picture? So, I know you guys have been working See in the legislative goes back to 2016 originally there's been I mean development economic development permits standards zoning the amount of and the mayor's office involved in that the engineering planning as everyone's a full-on process where we have you know dozens of properties these are the ones that are marketable ready to go clear empty green space most of them are ready to be built immediately that these are the ones that we started with there's other properties where we need to take forward that have either some zoning changes. This was one of the properties where we had to split it so we made sure that there wouldn't be one single family home, it'd be two se single family homes and this was the process that we brought forward.

The reason for my concern of course I I hope the council understands is I just thought that that it lacked the information that I would be looking for. uh and I I'm hopeful that in the future that information that you present to us would be more thorough uh and the like and and not just the basics. Um it doesn't seem to be um favorability to second my motion. So I'm going to withdraw the first motion and I understand what's going on and appreciate hearing from Alderman Nunes and wanting to develop it. I think it's a good idea as well. I just thought it lacked more information to give us a certain amount of comfort level. That's all.

Alderman Masakos, I think we've already been through a first round. Um, if did did if Alder Seville withdrew it. Did you withdraw your motion? He withdrew his motion. I'd like to put the question to a vote or call into question the vote. Move forward. Called the question. I'll ask the clerk to please call the role. Morero, yes. Garza, yes. Yes. Masakos, yes. Nunes, yes. Franco, yes. Seville, yes. Benuelos, yes. Smith, yes. Bug, yes. Bade, yes. Larson, yes. White, yes. 12, yes. Zero, no. Uh,

motion carries. This resolution is approved and we will uh take the advice and recommendations of both Aldwoman Smith and Alderman Seville in the future. Thank you for working this through. I'll sign it in the morning. Uh, next is uh the bills. Uh, agenda item 26 0016 bill summary of large bills. Second. Motion was made by Alderwoman Garza, seconded by Alderman Bug. Uh are there any questions, discussion on the bills? Mayor, I have a question. Alderman White.

Yes. Looking through the bills, and it's probably a simple response. I did notice that we are uh paying about $200,000 to AKA. I wondering is that a part of the um money that we're giving them or is that something separate? So, we we have a standing contract every year with uh the Aurora Civic Center Authority for the maintenance of River Edge Park. Uh this is a payment that is tied to that agreement. I want to say it's don't quote me on the number 1.3 1.4 million. Okay.

Um and and that I believe is what it's for, unless you have anything to add to that, uh Stacy or somebody from finance. We did have just so everybody's aware uh Brian Caputo went through um all of and and finance went through all of the back bills to try and clean up uh things that we still owe the Aurora Civic Center Authority. Um and I think there's one outstanding piece. I I'll let you explain. Stacy Peters. Stacy Peterson, chief financial officer. Um that is correct. Um with the mayor's statement in regards to what we are paying to uh the Aurora Civic Center Authority.

Okay. Thank you. Just wanted to get clarity on that. And and we are pretty close to being all caught up with the exception of the uh I'm not sure what it was. I know there's one outstanding item. Okay. Uh, so there was a a motion and a second to pay the bills. Are there any further questions while we've got Stacy? Alderwoman Bade. Oh, no. No. [laughter] [gasps] Okay. Uh, I'll ask clerk, please call the role. Thank you, Stacy. Barrero, yes. Garza, yes. Missakos, yes. Nunes, yes. Franco, yes. Seville, yes. Benuelos, yes. Smith, Bug, yes. Bade,

yes. Larson, yes. White, yes. 11, yes. Zero and no. Uh, motion carries. Bills are approved. There's no need for a closed session. There being no further business come before the council. Is there a motion to adjourn this meeting? Motion to adjurnn. Motion made by Alderman Franco. Second by Alderwoman Garza. All in favor? Any opposed? Uh, motion carries. This meeting is adjourned at 7:34 p.m.